Iranian, Azerbaijani border guards clash; one killed

Iranian Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Ali Abdollahi on Monday confirmed reports that a clash occurred between Iranian and Azerbaijani border guards on Sunday in which an Azerbaijani guard was killed and several people wounded.

"The clash happened after the border guards of the Republic of Azerbaijan illegally crossed into Iran and did not heed Iranian border guards' order to stop," Abdollahi stated.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast also confirmed on Tuesday that "the border guards of the Republic of Azerbaijan entered Iran, perhaps inadvertently, and ignored the Iranian guards' order (to stop)" which led to a clash, in which "a number of people were wounded and an Azerbaijani guard was killed."

The diplomatic apparatus of both countries are investigating the incident, he added.

Mehmanparast also stated, "Such an event occurs on the borders of neighboring countries, and stop orders must be heeded."

He went on to say that such an issue could not be a cause for concern, he stated.

Mehmanparast added, "Officials of both countries of Iran and Azerbaijan are determined to enhance (bilateral) relations," and officials should vigilantly study such incidents and take the necessary measures to prevent them from happening again.